HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 01/11/2000COMMISSION ON DISABILITY
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 11, 2000
Council information Center, City Hall West
Members present: Nancy Baker, Kathryn Johnson, Susan Williams, Mark Beck, Laura Bumett, Rob and
Romola Fritz, Bob Palmer, Steve Seefeld. Guests: Brenda Cams, Library Director, and John Kefalas.
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman Nancy Baker at 12:20 p.m. The minutes were approved as
E-mailed.
Nancy asked for suggestions for any more topics for the annual report, which is due by the end of January.
She will write a rough draft and bring it to the next meeting. Steve reported that he had turned in the 2001
Work Plan.
Susan reported that she had had a meeting with the city librarians concerning sensitivity issues related to the
use of the library by the disabled. As a result of the meeting, the library staff has slowed down the mouse
speed on the computer used by the disabled. Also, the library staff has arranged for disabled patrons to use
the employee restroom upstairs since the regular ones are quite inaccessible. A sign announcing this
availability will be posted soon.
Brenda Cams, the Library Director, presented an extensive list of the library services to the disabled
community. Brenda and Susan discusser) the possibility of meeting with the library staff about once a year to
continue the dialog on the needs of the disabled and how they can be met. Brenda also explained the current
library budget difficulties due to the county having discontinued funding for the library. Nancy will draft a
letter to Mayor Martinez and County Commissioner Cathay Reynolds asking that the county reconsider the
elimination of these funds.
Laura told the members about Kerry Rathmell's recent Community column the Coloradoan, in which she
wrote of her new awareness of the reality of accessibility of public places for the disabled, which developed as
a result of her temporary use of crutches. Nancy asked Laura to write a follow-up letter of appreciation and
send it to the Coloradoan for publication.
John Kefalas presented a request that we send another letter of support for expanded Dial -A -Ride services.
Following a discussion, Nancy asked Mark to draft a letter to the appropriate city officials supporting
supplemental funding of these services for the summer as a pilot project and then inclusion of expanded
funding for the next two year city budget. We will consider this draft at the next meeting.
Steve reported that new members have been appointed to the COD and have been invited to attend a training
program presenting an orientation to the duties of commission members and legal concerns of which they need
to be aware. Current members indicated an interest in attending the program also since nothing like this has
been offered before.
Nancy reported that she has finally received some responses to the Disability Employment Survey.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Romola Fritz
Secretary